» Asked by Around The League if it's crazy to sign nine free agents as starters, Allen acknowledged that he and general manager Reggie McKenzie realize it's not a good idea to "build your team through free agency."

Faced with the NFL's most talent-deficient roster, the Raiders decided they needed viable starters to remain competitive while they develop draft picks.

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» Asked to identify those young "foundation" players, Allen named tight end Mychal Rivera and linebacker Sio Moore.

» As it turns out, signing LaMarr Woodley was not a hint that Allen will slide into more 3-4 looks in his base defense. The Raiders view Woodley as a 4-3 end, increasing his weight to the 270 to 275 range.

"That's what he was in college," Allen explained, "and really body-type-wise, they always had to kind of keep (his weight) down in Pittsburgh and that's maybe one of the reasons he had some injury issues."

» Allen wants to see 2013 second-round draft pick Menelik Watson win the right tackle job, which would move big-ticket free-agent signee Austin Howard inside to guard. Howard has never played guard in an NFL game.